On June 28, 2011, Google launched its own social network: Google+. Initially, Google worked with a test group. Based on the invitations they sent out, people could create an account and use the social network. Google decided to discontinue registration. Now the network is open to everyone. One no longer needs an invitation but can simply register.
Google+ for everyone
Google+ is finally open to everyone. After 90 days of 'testing', Google has abandoned the idea that only people with an invitation can use the social platform. In addition to opening up Google+, Google immediately made several adjustments. With these changes, Google is wasting no time: Google wants to accelerate the battle with Facebook.
Google+ vs. Facebook
You can see the similarities and differences between Google+ and Facebook in the infographic below from Technobombs.
As a company, do I have to start using Google+ now too?!
While half of the Netherlands has just left Hyves and is starting to get used to how Facebook works, the rest of the world is debating whether to start using Facebook or Google+. After all, Google certainly hasn't won yet.
One of Facebook's major successes is that you can also create a page for an organization, company, brand, or website. Google+ does not have this yet. The head of Google's commercial department, Jeff Huber, stated in a response to a blog post that this page functionality will be coming, but is still under development. “Yes, there will also be (SMB) business profile pages on Google+. I cannot announce the launch date yet because we want to make this feature as great as possible; we are programming as fast as we can.”
Ready to see how Snowflake works?
Now that Google has launched its own social platform for everyone, Facebook has gained a major competitor. Because Google is relatively new to the world of social media, I do not expect Google+ to surpass Facebook. Since Facebook is a company that specializes in social media, it can respond more quickly to changes taking place in the world of social media.